- BP quarterly profits met with demands on UK Ministers to force polluters to pay up to repair the damage they have caused to the climate.
- 4 in 5 (82%) say it is wrong for fossil fuel giants to profit without taking responsibility for the damage caused by their activities to people and the planet.
- 7 in 10 (71%) say the Govt should tax fossil fuel profits to pay into the Loss and Damage Fund to support communities facing the impacts the climate crisis.
New polling commissioned by international development charity Christian Aid reveals the public anger at fossil fuel giants making record profits yet not taking responsibility for the climate destruction their activities cause.
With BP announcing huge profits today, the new polling shows that the public are opposed to fossil giants being allowed to carry on polluting the planet.
According to polling by Savanta, commissioned by Christian Aid, 4 in 5 (82%) UK adults say they agree that it is wrong for oil and gas companies to make record profits without taking responsibility for the damage caused by their activities to people and the planet, with only 4% disagreeing.
At COP27 last November, world leaders agreed to create a fund dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities deal with the devastating loss and damage they have suffered. However, the detail on who pays into the fund and who can get support is yet to be agreed.
The polling also shows that 7 in 10 (71%) of UK adults say that the UK Government should tax the profits of fossil fuel companies to pay into this Loss and Damage Fund.
Jennifer Larbie, Head of UK Advocacy and Policy at Christian Aid, said:
“Around the world, people that have done the least to cause the climate crisis are the ones having to face the most severe climate shocks and are paying the price in terms of damage to their homes, harvests and human life.
“Fossil fuel companies are making huge profits and it’s time they were held to account for the harm they are causing. A portion of those profits, made on the backs of the climate vulnerable, should be used to repair the loss and damage created from this climate pollution.
“That is the view of the clear majority of the British public and the UK Government should act to make polluters pay.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Polling:
Savanta interviewed 2,314 UK adults aged 18+ online between 20th and 23rd October 2023. Data was weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.
Q1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
It is wrong for oil and gas companies to make record profits without taking responsibility for the damage caused by their activities to people and the planet.
- Four in five (82%) UK adults say they agree that it is wrong for oil and gas companies to make record profits without taking responsibility for the damage caused by their activities to people and the planet; opinion on this matter is strong, with over half (56%) strongly agreeing with this and only 4% disagreeing.
Q2. At COP27, world leaders agreed to create a global fund to provide financial support to communities that are experiencing damaging impacts of climate change. Which of the following best describes your view?
- Seven in ten (71%) UK adults say that the UK Government should tax the profits of fossil fuel companies to pay into a global fund to provide financial support to communities that are experiencing the damaging impacts of climate change, while only 16% say they should not (13% don’t know)
Data tables are available upon request.
Earlier this year Christian Aid commissioned the same poll questions with Savanta.
In April 78% of people said it was wrong for fossil fuel giants to profit without taking responsibility for the damage caused by their activities to people and the planet. That number is now 82%.
63% believed the Govt should tax fossil fuel profits to pay into the Loss and Damage Fund to support communities facing the impacts the climate crisis. That number is now 71%.
